Evandria was in their chamber. And that fact alone made her uncomfortable.

Elion had returned today.

She did not know what work he had gone out for, but when she had seen him earlier, his mood had not looked good at all — cold, heavy, as if something was wrong.

But what does that have to do with me? As if it matters. Hmph. Evandria thought, puffing her cheeks.

Then it hit her.

Wait… it does matter.

Because Elion was going to be here. This was his room too. Which meant he was going to sleep here. She suddenly realized something important. She had grown careless while he was gone. She had not even changed her room.

Evandria placed a hand on her head in disbelief before dropping onto the bed with a frustrated groan. I should have changed my room while he wasn’t here… But what if I had changed rooms and he got angry? What if he thought I was disrespecting him… and ended up beating me? Like the rumors said he had done to his first wife?

She looked at the door. Then frowned.

As if I’d let him beat me.

Her lips pressed into a determined line.

No. It doesn’t matter anymore. If he tries anything funny… I’ll smash his head.

She clenched one fist in the air. It would have looked threatening if not for how small and adorable she looked doing it.

***

Elion was in his study. He checked several documents and placed them neatly into a drawer. As he did, his eyes briefly paused on the topmost document, sealed with the crest of House Bloomward.

The moment his eyes landed on it, his expression darkened instantly.

House Bloomward. I have to look into it. Maybe I have to go to the Dravaryn Kingdom.

He slid it inside with the same cold expression. The rest were ordinary documents. He reviewed them, signed where necessary, and closed the file.

“It’s already late…”

Elion stood up, took his coat from the hanger, put it on, and headed toward the bedroom.

***

Thud. Thud.

The rhythmic sound of approaching boots made Evandria’s heart leap into her throat.

He’s here! What should I do?

Evandria panicked internally.

I’ll go sleep in another room, but… if I do that, then what will the servants think? Then… the sofa.

She rushed to the bed and grabbed a pillow. But before she could do anything else —

Creak.

The door slowly opened, and the sound cut straight through her frantic thoughts.

Elion stepped inside and froze in his tracks.

Evandria was standing beside the bed, clutching a pillow tightly in both hands. She was staring straight at him.

Elion’s gaze moved from the pillow to her tense posture, as if trying to understand what she was attempting to do.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Evandria did not answer. She just stared at him.

I-Is he going to yell at me? Or… is he going to beat me? If he tries to hit me, I’ll smash his face with this pillow! I’m not weak. I’m strong.

Elion spoke again, his voice calm and flat. “I asked what you’re trying to do.”

“Oh… umm…”

Evandria’s mind went blank. She did not know what to say. Then, in a panic, she blurted out, “J-Just so you know! If you try anything funny, I-I’ll kill you! I-I’ll punch you.”

She meant to sound threatening. But it came out awkward. A flush of embarrassment warmed her cheeks as she looked away.

Elion narrowed his eyes, clearly confused by everything she just said. He stared at her for a brief moment, as if trying to make sense of her words. But he did not say anything. Instead, he simply walked past her toward the hanger.

Oops… what am I even saying? If he wasn’t angry before, I’m definitely making him angry now…

Elion placed his coat on the hanger and walked toward the wardrobe, taking another one. “You can sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Excuse me?” Evandria blurted out.

He glanced at her and repeated himself evenly.

“I said you can sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Oh… eh… what?” Evandria spoke in a low voice as she stared at him in complete disbelief.

“Are you deaf?” Elion asked.

“No, no! I-I get it.”

Even so, she continued staring at him as if he had just said something impossible.

Elion put on the coat and turned toward the door. But just as he was about to leave, Evandria spoke again. “Where are you going?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Elion paused.

Oops. He looks angry. He’s definitely going to yell at me. Evandria, you idiot! Why did you even ask that? What does it matter to you where he goes or not?

But contrary to her expectations, Elion turned back and looked at her.

“I’m going outside. I have some work. You can go ahead and sleep. Don’t stay up too late.”

And with that, he left the room.

“Okay,” Evandria said.

…Only in her head. She realized a second later that she had not actually spoken aloud.

What was that? That’s it?

She stood there in stunned silence before slowly placing the pillow back on the bed.

A while later, she looked out the window.

She saw Elion leaving the manor, not through the main gate, but through the back gate, which led behind the estate.

Evandria watched quietly, still confused.

***

As the faint morning light slipped through the thin curtains, it spread a soft golden glow across the room. A cool breeze drifted in from a slightly open window, carrying the faint sounds of birds waking to a new day.

Evandria stirred awake. She gently rubbed her eyes, and when she opened them, her gaze instinctively moved toward the sofa.

Then she froze. Her eyes widened.

Elion was there. Sleeping. She stared at him, unable to believe what she was seeing.

He is really sleeping on the sofa?